Abstract
The University of Otago Annual Archaeology Postgraduate Symposium 2026 featured six excellent presentations and was held in Moot Court of the Richardson Building and on Zoom on 28 August 2026. This year featured one of the highest number of MArchP presenters, most of whom are distance students, and we were pleased to include a postgraduate researcher from History. The welcome was given by Dr Charles Radclyffe (Postgraduate Events Coordinator), followed by presentations by the postgraduates:
Paisley McLeod (MArchP candidate, Archaeology), Understanding Maaori Perspectives on the Uncovering of Kooiwi Tangata During Cultural Resource Management Archaeology
Kristina Johnson (MArchP candidate, Archaeology), An Investigation into the Archaeological Collections Crisis
Sarah Dugdale (MArchP candidate, Archaeology), You’ve gotta know, to understand: Approaches to Cultural Heritage Practice and Data Management in Aotearoa New Zealand
Andrew Z. Lorey (PhD candidate, History), Histories of Business and Everyday Life in Material Culture: Making a Case for a Material-Oriented and Archives-Led Approach
Ben Heaps (Masters candidate, Archaeology), From Sand to Sea: Examining the behaviour of pre-contact Waka through digital simulation
Pio E. Manoa (PhD candidate, Archaeology), Exploring the Ancient Fijian Past: Insights from Lapita and Late Period Archaeological Sites in Southeast Vanualevu